Yahoo Finance 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 / Mercedes-AMG C43
UPDATE 10/26/2018: This review has been updated with C/D test results.
Its name may be unchanged, but the fresh-faced 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 packs an all-new powerplant under its hood. The engine is but one slice of the almost 6500 modifications Mercedes claims to have made to the C-class sedan, coupe, and cabriolet as part of the entry-luxury model’s mid-cycle update.
More Power
Despite sharing its displacement with the previous engine, the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four in the 2019 C300 is a new design. Armed with technologies such as variable intake-valve lift and a dual-scroll turbocharger, the forced-induction four makes 14 more horses than before, for a total of 255, while torque holds steady at 273 lb-ft.
The previous engine wasn’t known for its inspiring acoustics, and the new one won’t be, either. Although the engine is quiet at idle and subdued at speed, the auditory experience at wide-open throttle remains a bit unbecoming for a vehicle wearing the three-pointed star.
Still, the little four-cylinder is more personable than before. It’s eager to run to redline, builds power progressively throughout the rev range, and, thanks in part to a shorter final-drive ratio (3.27:1 versus 3.07:1), the C300 moves off the line with ease. In our testing, an all-wheel-drive C300 4Matic sedan hit 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, lopping more than half a second off the old C300's time. And it clipped the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds at 99 mph, 0.5-second quicker and 3-mph faster than before. Those times put the new four-cylinder Benz on equal footing with the Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T but just slightly behind the Audi A4.
A nine-speed automatic transmission is the only game in town, but both rear- and all-wheel drive remain available. The gearbox is both smooth and smart, happy to kick down a couple of gears with a small prod of the accelerator or to motor along in top gear at more than 100 mph on the autobahn. That said, the transmission starts in second gear when placed in the default Comfort mode (there also are Eco, Sport, Sport+, and Individual settings)-an irksome trait that exacerbates the engine's minor turbo lag.
Those in search of more get up and go can continue to opt for the Mercedes-AMG C43, which comes standard with all-wheel drive. A pair of bigger turbochargers helps the 3.0-liter V-6 produce 23 more horsepower than last year’s car, for a new total of 385 horses along with 384 lb-ft of torque. The AMG-tuned nine-speed automatic carries over. At the track, the new C43's blistering 4.1-second run to 60 mph actually was no quicker than before, but it's still good enough to beat the (outgoing) BMW M340i xDrive and the Audi S4. Similarly, the C43's quarter-mile run of 12.6 seconds at 111 mph was just fractionally better than the old C43's 12.7 at 110, but again shaded the BMW and the Audi.
Both versions of the new C-class notched notable improvements in braking compared to their outgoing counterparts. The C300 needed only 153 feet to come to a half from 70 mph-a figure that also out-performs its competitors-while the C43 required 160 feet, tying the M340i but trailing the S4 by 18 feet. And both Benz models recorded 0.93 g of lateral grip on the skidpad while wearing identical Continental ContiSportContact5 summer tires.
Barrelling along the open roads surrounding Gonnesweiler, Germany, or laboring over the broken backroads of Michigan, the C43 is in its element and as rewarding to drive as ever. Its balanced chassis, chatty steering, and rear-biased all-wheel-drive system make for an engaging and enjoyable vehicle that mostly makes up for the model’s improved-yet-still-firm ride quality. While the ride in the previous model on most roads could range from back-aching in Comfort mode to back-breaking in the Sport+ setting, suspension tweaks made to the 2019 C43 allow for much more compliance from its adaptive dampers on all but the roughest road surfaces.
Screening Room
Thanks to a revised electronics architecture, the 2019 C-class is able to support a number of additional convenience and safety technologies, including a more advanced Distronic active-cruise-control system, that bring it one step closer to achieving parity with its bigger E- and S-class stablemates.
The semi-autonomous driving system relies primarily on a front-mounted camera and radar sensors at the front, sides, and rear of the car. Distronic-equipped C-class models also can use navigation data to automatically adjust their speed for upcoming curves or intersections. While the system was adept at keeping up with the flow of traffic, we found that it often seemed slow to process navigation information. For example, a C300 coupe we drove failed to slow for an upcoming roundabout and needed us to take control of the vehicle to safely decelerate in time.
A new anti-theft alarm can identify any impacts made to the C-class while parked and will send a push notification to the owner’s phone through the Mercedes Me mobile application if it suspects the vehicle has been damaged. It also shares information about any recorded impacts in the gauge-cluster screen when the driver returns.
Analog gauges that incorporate a 5.5-inch info screen are standard on the C300 and C43, while a 12.3-inch digital cluster now is optional. The larger unit pairs with a new 10.3-inch central screen, which replaces the standard 7.0-inch unit. As in the E- and S-classes, the C-class’s two big screens are manipulated by scrolling and tapping at the two touch-sensitive nubs on the left and right spokes of the redesigned steering wheel. Cruise-control functions are on the steering wheel as well, as Mercedes is almost done phasing out its traditional cruise-control stalk. Alternately, drivers can use the console-mounted rotary control knob and associated touchpad (which now includes haptic feedback) to access the infotainment features of the C-class.
The Look
Revised front and rear fascias and new LED head- and taillights give the C-class sedan, coupe, and cabrio a statelier look. Those in search of a sportier design can opt for the AMG Line package, which brings C43-style visuals to the C300.
For its part, the C43’s details include a grille like that of the outgoing C63 AMG (which receives the Panamericana grille design for its 2019 refresh), specific front and rear styling, a quartet of round exhaust outlets, a decklid spoiler, and available lightweight wheels that were wind-tunnel tested for improved aerodynamics-even if the resulting wheel design is anything but beautiful.
Improved powertrains, a new infotainment system, more sophisticated driver aids, and a bit more ride comfort should help the 2019 C300 and C43 weather the assault that is coming from the all-new BMW 3-series that’s on the way and keep the C-class near the top of the entry-luxury segment.
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